Die assembly



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DIE ASSEMBLY l Filed May 7, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 April 7, 1942. c, s, KNIGHT 2,278,618

DIE ASSEMBLY Filed May 7, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Apriw, 1942.l

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M @MM Q Patented Apr. 7, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,278,618 DIE ASSEMBLY Chesterton S. Knight, Brockton, Mass., assigner to Benjamin W. Freeman, Cincinnati, Ohio Application May 7, 194.0, Serial No. 333,857

(Cl. lill-30) 19 Claims.

This invention relates toshoe machinery, and more particularly to improvements in die assemblies for use in ornamenting shoe uppers and shoe parts by the formation of cut-outs or perforations in portions thereof, and also by the application of printed markings in the work.

Specifically, this application is directed to improvements in the gauge mask and hold-down portions of die assemblies of the type illustrated in a co-pending application of Louis G. Freeman, Jr., and -Chesterton S. Knight, Serial No. 268,610, filed April 18, 1939, for Die assembly, while retaining all the advantages thereof.

These die assemblies are used in a machine having pressure applying means to provide relative movement between a supported work-piece and the operating elements of the die. Where work that is flat in nature, such as blanks for quarters, Vamps, and the like, are treated, a conventional at bed die may be used, but when the work is ring-like in nature, as a closed or full fitted upper, or has been shaped out of a flat condition, heretofore it has been considered advisable to support the work upon an elevated, anvil structure which provides lateral clearance for draping those parts of the work which are not being treated, whereby to avoid buckling the work. Various conditions arise however, which make it desirable to use flat bed machines, which are not equipped with anvils, and dies of the flatbed type, in the treatment of this latter class of work, and other conditions occur wherein, even with the use of an elevated work support, it is advantageous to provide for special handling of the work, and it is one of the -2 objects of the present invention to provide ay die organization or assembly, including a work gauging mask and hold-down, for treating work of other than a at nature, and at the same time retaining usefulness of the organization for handling nat work.

The embodiments of the invention illustrated herein disclose types of assemblies adapted for operations upon skins, upper blanks, fitted and closed uppers, and the like, in which the work is marked with ink or pigment at the same time, or as part of the cycle of operations, during which the work is also ornamented by perforating or cutting out a design or ornamental opening therein. The markings applied to the work tion for a line of stitching, or to assist in the fitting together of several shoe parts. Preferably, the marking, and perforating or cutting out will be performed in a single machine operation.

However, the invention is not limited to the combination of perforating with printing or marking, and it will be evident as the description proceeds that the invention is equally useful when either of these operations are performed alone.

The die assemblies, of which the gauge mask and hold-down forms an important part, are especially adaptable for use in the type of machine described and claimed in the reissue patent of Benjamin W. Freeman, Reissue No. 20,294, dated March 16, 1937, and the application of the invention to this type of machine is illustrated and described herein.

. The subject-matter of this invention deals particularly with the problems which arise in handling, in a flat bed type of machine, fitted uppers, gypsy seam Vamps, full fitted gypsy seam uppers, and other fittedl or ring-like work, which by virtue of its peculiar characteristics has been provided with a spring, or has been distorted from a flat condition, as by closing the upper, and will not lie flat in the machine under normal handling, and which work tends to bunch up, bulge or overlap, in a manner interfering with operation of the machine, when one portion of the work is flattened out for an operation there- In the use of these die assemblies, the work piece is placed upon a suitable support, is aligned with the die element by means of the gauge mask, and if not flat, the Work is clamped or held by the mask, with that part of the work to be treated in a flat condition, and properly aligned to the die.` When a fitted upper is thus placed in the machine, bulged parts of the work, or elements of the upper, may try to buckle the part of the upper being treated, or position themselves over or under the area which is to be ornamented, thus interfering with proper operations. For example, if the ornamentation is to be placed f in the quarter of the upper, and that portion of the upper flattened out, there may be interference from the nose or lace stay, and means must be provided to hold such interfering part of the upper out of the zone of operations.

One object of the invention then, is to provide a gauge mask, forming part of the die assembly and specifically related to the die with which it is used, constructed to clamp or hold the work down, and gauge same in a single plane,

relative to the die elements, and which mask may be restricted to that part of the upper which is to be flattened out and ornamented.

Another object is to provide room for an operator to hold a bulged out, buckled or bunched up portion of the upper continuously with one hand during the placement of the work, while gauging or manipulating the mask with the other hand. In accordance with this object, the mask structure is formed with an open structure, arranged to clear the operators hand as the mask is raised or lowered, whereupon the operator can hold on to the work, until it is firmly clamped by engagement with the mask.

Still a further feature relates to theprovisicn of means for holding out of the way, any part of the upper which might otherwise tend to overlap or project into the zone of operations. This feature then, contemplates a shape and position of the mask structure such as to clear the bulged or interfering portions of the work, while holding another portion of the work atwise in the zone of operations.

A further object is to provide in a gauge mask, means for clamping the work in its gauged position during the cycle of machine operation. As described in the aforementioned co-pending application, the mask structure is made as a frame, permitting the operator to see the work at all times, and comprises generally a base plate or f outer frame arranged to be mounted fixedly in the machine, and a second frame or mask hingedly mounted to the first member, and shaped to provide the gauge and clamping functions. The present improvements are concerned with redesigning the hinged or movable frame which carries the gauging and clamping elements.

In fact the fixed frame may even be eliminated, and the movable frame can be detachably mounted directly in the machine.

Where formerly, the movable frame was substantially closed, as now designed, the front of the movable frame is preferably leftl open. In other words, the connecting bar or 'plate portion extending across the front of the operators side of the movable frame is substantially eliminated, thus making it unnecessary for an operator to reach underthe movable frame for placement of the work, and then pull her hand out from under the frame, and back over the frame to hold the work in position after the frame has been clamped against the work.

By making it unnecessary for the operator to iirst raise the movable frame, place the Work under it, then withdraw her hand from position to close the frame against the Work, and place lier hand back on top of the work and the frame, the entire operation is speeded up, and unneccssary labor and effort on the part of the operator is avoided. While this may be a saving of but a few seconds, and a couple of movements on the operators part, when it is considered that hundreds of uppers` will be treated, by a single operator in one day, the saving in time and labor becomes appreciable.

Of equal importance with the saving of time is the important consideration that due to the ease with which the mask is operated and the masking operation performed, absolute accuracy in aligning the work is attained, and it is ensured that the work will be held in its accurately aligned position.

It is also a feature of the present invention to provide a movable mask frame which is so proportioned and related to the fixed frame member, and the mounting thereon in the machine as to permit the entire rear half of a fitted upper to extend forwardly toward the operator, beyond the bed of the machine, where it may be bent down out of the way. This arrangement is of considerable aid to an operator in quickly masking the vamp of a fitted upper, and the mask is so arranged that it readily clamps the vamp at a plurality of points around the zone of operations. This structure is particularly desirable when masking elasticized shoe uppers.

To the attainment of the foregoing and other objects which will appear as the description proceeds, reference may be made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a die assembly positioned in its normal operative relationship to the diecarriage and work support or bed of thermachine;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of one form of mask;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a different form of mask;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the mask shown in Fig. 2, illustrating its use upon the work;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a section on the line E-G of Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged perspective view of the mask shown in Fig. 3, illustrating its use upon the Work;

Fig. 8 is a section on the line S-B of Fig. '7; and

Fig. 9 isa section on the line 9-9 of Fig. 7.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, in which like reference numerals designate like part-s, it will be seen that such parts of the machinev as are necessary to illustrate the operation of the die and mask assembly have been illustrated in Fig. 1.

The die carriage A, which houses a mechanism for applying work stripping pressures to the die, carries a die unit B, in operative relation to a work support C, which, in the present illustration, is in the nature of a plunger or vertically movable bed of the machine. For purposes of illustration, the form of mask and hold-down shown in Figs. 2 and 4 has been applied to the machine in Fig. 1, together with the die unit with which the particular mask forms an assembly, but it will be understood that any other assembly of die and mask may be likewise applied to the machine, depending upon the nature of the Work and the pattern of the ornamentation.

'Ihe die unit B of Fig. 1 is, structurally speaking, non-adjustable and provided with the usual cutting elements D, and the resiliently mounted stripper plate E which may carry marking ribs 0r projections F. The marking elements F may be omitted if the die is to be used for straight cut-out work, or the cutting elements D may be omitted if the die is to be used for straight marking or printing, as compared with a combined operation of ink marking and perforating.

The die unit B includes a base portion G of a standard size, regardless of the size of the die body proper, by means of which the die can be mounted in the machine. This base G is provided with a dovetailed rib 40 which fits an undercut slot in the die carriage, and also carries an upstanding ear or lug 4I cooperative with locking mechanism in the die carriage. In order to prevent the die from springing, as well as to assist in positioning the die properly in the die carriage, the carriage carries tracks with inturned lugs 42 for engagement with the ends of the base portion G.

The interior cf the die carriage A is provided with means for applying stripping pressures to the die, and the die may be provided with cooperating mechanism for receiving and transmitting such stripping pressures. However, since these features form no part of the present invention, reference may be made to Reissue Patent No. 20,294, mentioned above, for a complete description thereof.

The gauge mask shown in Figs. 1, 2, 4, and 6 is particularly adapted to be used with work which will tend to bulge up, or crowd over the zone of operations, and to this end is provided with means for holding such interfering parts of the Work out of the way. As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the nose or lace stay of the upper is being held away from the zone which embraces a quarter of the shoe.

It will be noted that the mask consists of two main parts, viz., a stationary frame portion I5 which is attached to the Work support C by means of dowel pins P in the same manner that a conventional abutment gauge plate for flat work would be mounted in a machine, openings I6 being provided to receive the pins. This stationary frame portion I5 is so made as to receive a movable gauge frame work or mask I8, which is pivoted to the stationary frame by hinges II, or any other convenient manner. Forming part of the frame I8 is a gauge plate I9 which is shaped to provide gauging edges 20 and 2|. These gauging edges will conform with some predetermined characteristic of the work, for example a lace stay, a line of stitching, the edge of an overlay or foxing, or some marking on the work, and when the Work is positioned beneath the plate I9, it can be readily aligned, by relating edges 20 and 2| to the characteristic of the work with which they are designed to register. It will be understood, of course, that the shape of the gauging edges will vary to accommodate the particular work.

The movable mask I8, with its plate I 9 is used, not only for aligning the work W in its correct position with respect to the die, but also for holding the Work in aligned position through the cycle of machine operation. To this end the plate is formed with a projecting finger 22 which functions primarily to assist in clamping the work in position, and since the work is also held by the main body of the plate I9, it will be evident that the area which is to be ornamented is clamped at a plurality of points, at least partially surrounding the zone of operations.

The inger 22 may, if desired, be provided with a gauging edge.

A bridge 23' is eifective to additionally secure the plate I9 to the frame I8, thus making the entire structure more rigid. This bridge 23, as can be seen from Figs. 4 and 5, receives a bulgedup part of the work, exemplified herein as one of the lace stays of the upper, and thus prevent such part of the work overlapping or interfering with the zone of operations defined bythe gauging edges 2U and 2|. The opposite lace stay will, of course, be held down beneath the plate I 9 and the edge 2 I.

Being made as a frame rather than a solid piece having a gauge opening therein, as has been done heretofore in the art, the operator can freely see the work. In addition, instead of bethe front and side of the mask I8 is left open, as clearly shown at the left of Fig. 2.

When using a solid mask, or a closed frame construction, the mask is first raised so that the operator lcan place the work therebeneath. The operator holds the work in position until the mask is brought down towards a clamping engagement with the work and then removes her hand in order to hold down the mask and work from the top. With the construction herein illustrated, this extra movement of the operators hand is entirely eliminated, as the operator can position the work, and hold it in place during the downward movement of the mask, until the work is rmly clamped by the mask. This is permitted by the open construction of the movable frame and gauge plate.

The mask in its entirety is made substantially in one plane, and being made as a frame, can be restricted to that portion of the work which is to be flattened out for ornamenting purposes. The mask is provided, however, with a handle 24 which is elevated into a third dimension, i. e., extended upwardly at an angle from the portion I 8, in order to clear any folds or bunched up portions of the work W which might project forwardly from beneath the mask, as shown in Fig. 4.

When placing the work beneath the mask, the operator bunches up that side of the work opposite to the side to be ornamented, or bends up the stay of the work opposite the side to be ornamented, and lowers the mask until the bunched up part of the work is received by the bridge 23 which serves to hold it out of the way. At the same time the heel end of the upper may tend to bunch and fold, but clearance for this part of the work is afforded by the angular disposition of the handle 20, in the event that the work does not project suiciently well forward to hang down over the front of the work support C. With the upper in this position, the operator can quickly align and locate the work properly by reference to the gauge edges 2i? and 25, and at the same time hold the work against slippage, Without removing her hand from a location which would otherwise be under the mask.

With the type of work Where it is desired to quickly mask the vamp of a tted upper, and where the work is of such a nature that the vamp can be attened out, as in the case of an elasticized upper which can be readily distorted and folded, without harm to the work, it has been found desirable to provide a gauge mask frame which is so proportioned and related to its fixed frame as to permit the entire rear half of the fitted upper to extend forwardly toward the operator beyond the gauging portions of the mask, and if desired, the entire mask unit may be so positioned relative to the forward edge of the bed of the machine that the rear half of the upper may be bent down out of the way. although this is not essential. This arrangement permits a quick masking of the 'shoe by reference to predetermined characteristics of the vamp, and at the same time does not destroy its utility in the mask of a flat vamp blank.

This type of mask is illustrated in Figs. 3, '7, 8 and 9, and comprise a stationary frame member 27 to which is hinged a movable mask frame 28 provided with a handle portion 29. The handle 29 may or may not be elevated out of the main plane of the mask, as desired. It is illustrated ing made as a solid plate or as a closed frame,'

herein as being located out of the way, at one' side of the structure.

Extending from side to side of the forward portion of the frame 28 is a gauge plate 35 provided with a gauging edge 3l, which is shaped to conform to thev throat of the vamp, or to a line of stitching adjacent the vamp throat, or to a suitable marking or other configuration forming a characteristic of the vamp. Cooperating with the throat gauge 3l is a tip and center line gauge plate 32 extending across the rear or inner portion of the frame 28. This gauge is slotted as indicated at 33 so that the work may be seen therethrough, and center line gauges 34 are marked on the plate at each end of the slot. These gauges 34 provide a straight line arranged to extend along the center line of the work, or may be used to line up with prick marks or the like, previously placed in the work, and thus afford a means for accurately outlining the work laterally of the mask. This is not an absolute essential, since the gauge 3l will normally be suflicient for a quick gauging of the work. The plate 32 also serves to clamp down the tip of the upper, while the plate 30 is performing a clamping function at the opposite side of the zone of operations, and there will be no tendency for the work to slide.

From the foregoing, it is believed that the operation and advantages will be readily apparent. In addition to retaining the desirable advantages and utility of the devices disclosed in the abovementioned copending application, the added advantages of extremely quick masking of the work,

and simplifying the operation of masking have and that many modifications within the scope of #i the invention may occur to those skilled in the art, It is to be further understood that each mask will vary in accordance with the particular pattern to be placed in a work piece, and/or the particular location of the ornamentation in the part.

The die unit and the gauge mask form jointly a complete assembly, neither of which is complete without the other, since obviously any particular gauge must be designed for its own die, and vice versa.

Further, it is evident that features of the structures shown in Fig. 2 may be incorporated in the structure shown in Fig, 3, e. g., as by omitting the left hand bar of the frame 28, and the converse is likewise true, should it be desired, for example, to shape the finger 22 to a configuration effective for use as a throat gauge.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Pattent of the United States, is:

1. A gauge mask for use in aligning a workpiece `on a support to a die, comprising a supporting frame, a gauge frame movably attached thereto, and having an operating portion disposed substantially entirely in a single plane, gauging means carried by said movable frame and disposed in the plane thereof, said gauging means presenting an edge conforming to a predetermined characteristic of the workpiece, said mask being'shaped, constructed and arranged to provide free clearance for an operators hand holding the workpiece against said work support, whereby said gauge frame may be freely swung to position past the operators hand.

2. A gauge mask for use in aligning a workpiece on a support to a die. comprising a supporting frame, a gauge frame movably attached thereto, and having an operating portion disposed substantially entirely in a single plane, gauging means carried by said movable frame and disposed in the plane thereof, said gauging means presenting an edge conforming to a predetermined characteristic of the workpiece, said mask having an open portion within its normal area providing clearance for an operators hand holding the workpiece against said work support during movement of said movable frame, whereby said gauge frame may be freely swung to position past the operators hand.

3. A gauge mask for use in aligning a workpiece on a support to a die, comprising a supporting frame, a gauge frame movably attached thereto, and having an operating portion disposed substantially entirely in a single plane, gauging means carried by said movable frame and disposed in the plane thereof, said gauging means presenting an edge conforming to a predetermined characteristic of the workpiece, the contour of said movable frame being interrupted adjacent the gauging means, to provide free clearance for an operators hand holding the workpiece against said work support, whereby said gauge frame may be freely swung to position past the operators hand.

4. A gauge mask for use in aligning a workpiece on a support to a die, comprising a supporting frame, a gauge frame movably attached thereto, and having an operating portion disposed substantially entirely in a single plane, gauging means carried by said movable frame and disposed in the plane thereof, said gauging means presenting an edge conforming to a predetermined characteristic of the workpiece, said gauging means and movable frame being open at a point adjacent the normal zone of operations, whereby clearance is provided for an operators hand holding the workpiece against said work support, whereby said gauge frame may be freely swung to position past the operators hand.

5. A gauge mask for use in aligning a workpiece on a support to a die, comprising a member having an edge conforming to a predetermined characteristic of the work to be gauged. said mask being shaped to provide clearance in the region of said gauging edge for an operators hand holding the workpiece against said work support when the work is aligned relative to said edge, whereby said mask may be freely swung to position past the operators hand.

6. A gauge mask for use in aligning a workpiece on a support to a die, comprising a member having an edge within the normal outline of the mask, conforming to a predetermined characteristie of the work to be gauged, said mask having an open portion in the region of said gauging edge to provide free clearance within the normal outline of the mask for an operators hand holding the workpiece against said work support, whereby said mask may be freely swung to position past the operators hand.

7. A gauge mask for use in aligning a workpiece on a support to a die, comprising a frame member and gauging means carried by said frame member, said gauging means conforming to a ypredetermined characteristic of the workpiece to be gauged, and said frame member being interrupted in the region of the gauging means to provide free clearance for an operators hand holding the workpiece against said Work support, whereby said frame member may be freely swung to position past the operators hand.

8. A gauge mask for use in aligning a workpiece on a support to a die, comprising a frame member and gauging means carried by said frame member, said gauging means conforming to a predetermined characteristic of the workpiece to member, and means engageable with the workpiece to clamp same in an aligned position with respect to the die, said gauging means conforming to a predetermined characteristic of the workpiece to be gauged, and said frame member being interrupted in the region of the gauging means l to provide free clearance for an operators hand holding the workpiece against said work support, whereby said frame member may be freely swung to position past the operators hand, and means to mount said frame for movement into and out of clamping engagement with the workpiece.

10. The combination with a flat bed press machine having an ornamenting die, of a gauge mask for use in aligning a workpiece on the flat bed of the machine to said die, comprising a frame member, gauging means carried by said frame member, and means engageable with the workpiece to clamp same iiatwise on the ilat bed of the machine and in an aligned position with respect to the die, said gauging means conforming to a predetermined characteristic of the Workpiece to be gauged, means to mount said frame upon the bed for movement into and out of clamping engagement with the workpiece, and

said frame member being interrupted in the region of the gauging means to provide free clearance in the path of movement 4of the frame member for an operators hand holding the workpiece on said bed, until the workpiece is clamped flatwise upon said bed.

l1. A gauge mask for use in aligning work on a support to a die, comprising a member having a work gauging and clamping portion disposed substantially entirely in a single plane, gauging means in said portion conforming to a, predetermined characteristic of the work, said member having a portion extending out of said plane to provide clearance for parts of the work extending outside of the normal Zone of operation, and said member being shaped adjacent the Zone of operation to provide clearance for the hand of an operator holding the work on said support during alignment of the work, whereby said member may be freely swung to position past the -operators hand.

12. A gauge mask for use in aligning work on a support to a die, comprising a member having a work gauging and clamping portion disposed substantially entirely in a single plane, gauging means in said portion conforming to a predetermined characteristic of the work, said member having a portion extending out of said plane to provide clearance for parts of the work extending outside of the normal Zone of operation, means including said clamping portion to clamp and hold the work flatwise across the zone of operation, and said member being shaped adja cent the Zone of operation to provide clearance for the hand of an operator holding the work on said support during alignment of the work, whereby said member may be freely swung to position past the operators hand.

13. A gauge maskV for use in aligning work on a support to a die, comprising a member having a work gauging and clamping portion disposed substantially entirely in a single plane, gauging means in said portion conforming to a predetermined characteristic of the work, said member having a portion extending out of said plane to provide clearance for parts of the work extending outside of the normal zone of operation, means including said clamping portion disposed to partially surround the zone of operation and effective to clamp and hold the work flatwise, at a plurality of points about said zone, and said member being shaped adjacent the Zone of operation to provide clearance for the hand of an operator holding the work on said support during aligning of the work, whereby said member may be freely swung to position past the operators hand.

14. In a die assembly for ornamenting closed, fitted uppers in a iiat bed machine, the combination with an ornamenting die, of gauge means for aligning the upper on the atbed of the machine, to the die, comprising gauging means conforming to a predetermined characteristic of the upper, means associated with said gauging means to provide clearance for parts of the upper extending beyond the normal zone of operation on the upper, and means providing clearance for an operators hand holding the work against said bed, adjacent the Zone of operation during an upper aligning operation, whereby said gauging means may be freely swung to position past the operators hand,

15. In a die assembly for ornamenting closed, fitted uppers in a flat bed machine, the combination with an ornamenting die, of means to gauge and align a workpiece on the iiat bed of the machine relative to the die, and to clamp same flatwise in aligned position, comprising gauging means conforming to a predetermined characteristic of the work, and means engageable with the work to hold same in position, means associated with said gauging means to provide clearance for parts of the work extending beyond the normal zone of operation on the work, and means providing clearance for an operators hand holding the work against said bed, adjacent the Zone of operation during a work aligning operation, whereby said gauging means may be freely swung to position past the operators hand.

16. A gauge mask for use in aligning a closed shoe upper on a support to an ornamenting die, in a flat bed machine, comprising gauging means including an edge portion of the mask conforming to a predetermined characteristic of said upper, means adjacent said edge portion to hold buckled and otherwise interfering parts of the upper out of the zone of operati-ons, and means in said mask to provide clearance for the hand of an operator holding the upper against said support, adjacent the zone of operations when the upper is being aligned, whereby said gauging movement relative thereto, gauging means carried by said second frame member, including means engageable with the workpiece to clamp same flatwise in the bed, in an aligned position with respect to the die, said gauging and clamping means conforming to a predetermined characteristic of the workpiece to be gauged, said frames being relatively, and completely spaced from each other adjacent the region of the gauging means to provide free clearance therebetween for an operators hand holding the workpiece against said bed, until the workpiece is clamped atwise upon said bed, whereby said second frame member may be freely swung to position past the operators hand, and handle means upon said second frame member positioned forwardly of and at the extreme side thereof, whereby to clear work being gauged by said mask.

18. A gauge mask for use in aligning a workpiece on a support to a die, comprising a member adapted for fixation to said support and a work clamping member adapted for movability with respect to said support, one of said members having gauge means conforming to a predetermined characteristic of the work to be gauged or aligned to the die, and means to provide clearance with respect to said movable member, for an operators hand holding the workpiece on the support, when the work is alignedby reference to said gauging means, whereby said movable member may be freely swung to position past the operators hand.

19. A gauge mask for use in aligning a workpiece on a support to a die, comprising a member adapted for fixation to said support and a member adapted for movability with respect to said support, said movable member having gauging means conforming to a predetermined characteristic of the work to be gauged or aligned to thedie, and means to provide clearance with respect to said movable member, for an operators hand holding the workpiece on the support,l adjacent the fixed member when the work is aligned by reference to said movable member, whereby said movable member may be freely swung to position past the operators hand.

CHESTERTON S. KNIGHT. 

